Objective To study the correlation of expression of N-myc downstream regulated gene 1(NDRG1) with invasion of breast invasive duct carcinoma and lymph node metastasis. Methods A total of 71 specimens including 26 case of primary breast invasive duct carcinoma with lymphnode metastasis,45 case of nonmetastasis breast invasive duct carcinoma were observed.NDRG1 was detected by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections.At the same time,the correlations of NDRG1 with E-cad,MMP2,MMP9,and TIMP2 were investigated. Results The expression of NDRG1 in breast cancer with metastasis of lymph nodes(9/26) was lower than that of non-metastasis of lymph nodes(32/45)(P

BACKGROUND: It has been reported tbat there are rich expressions of serotonin transporter (5-HTT) in the cortical and limbic regions related to emotion and behavior in cerebrum. Regulation of the intensity and persistence of serotonergic nerve response can change the serotonergic neurotransmission, meanwhile, 5-HTT is also an important target for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).OBJECTIVE: To observe whether there is a correlation of 5-HTT gene polymorphism with plasma level of 5-HT and the clinical response of SSRIs in the population of Nanjing area.DESIGN: A case-control observation.SETTING: Department of Psychiatry, Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 132 inpatients with depression in the Department of Psychiatry, Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and 100 volunteer healthy blood donors were taken as the observational subjects between January 2001 and December 2003.METHODS: The genotype was analyzed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) polymorphism analysis in the patients with depression and healthy subjects; plasma level of 5-HT was analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography-electrical chemistry detector (HPLC-ECD); and the clinical response to the antidepressants were assessed with Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The analytical results of 5-HTT genotype frequency and allele frequency in both groups, and the relationship between 5-HTT genotype and plasma level of 5-HT before and after SSRIs treatment were observed.RESULTS: Blood samples were collected from all the 132 patients with depression and 100 normal healthy subjects, and they all finished the scale test and entered the analysis of results. ① There were no significant differences between the depression group and normal control group in the 5-HTT gene genotype frequencies (LL: 24.2%, LS: 44.7%, SS31.1%; LL:29.0%, LS: 47.0%, SS: 24.0%, x2=1.405 8, P ＞ 0.05) and allelefrequencies (L:46.59%, S: 53.41%; L: 52.5%, S: 47.5%, x2=0.696 2, P ＞ 0.05). ② The total score of HAMD had significant differences before treatment among the depressive patients of different genotypes (F=6.48, P=0.002 1). After 4-week treatment of SSRIs antidepressants, the total score of HAMD was significantly decreased, and there was significant difference in the decrease of score (F=3.38, P= 0.037). ③ The plasma level of 5-HT had significant differences before treatment among the depressive patients of different genotypes (F=5.38,P= 0.005 7). After 4-week treatment of SSRIs antidepressants, the plasma level of 5-HT was increased, and the increased level was significantly different among different genotypes (F=23.55, P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: The 5-HTT polymorphism may be not associated with the attack of depression, but with the severity of depression and the clinical responses of SSRIs in the population of Nanjing area, and the genotype in this area may become a reference index for the realization of individualized treatment in patients with depression.

BACKGROUND: Monoamine hypothesis has been demonstrated by researches. However, the correlation between the metabolite of plasma monoamine neurotransmitter and anti-depression treatment in patients with depression has less been reported.OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of different drugs on metabolite of plaama monoamine neurotransmitter, and the correlation between the metabolite of plasma monoamine neurotransmitter and anti-depression treatment in patients with depression.DESIGN: Case controlled study.SETTING: Neurological Department and Brain Institute of Nanjing Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: Forty patients with depression hospitalized in Nanjing Brain Hospital (depression group) were diagnosed with the second revised edition of China classification of mental diseases(CCMD-2) and the tenth edition of International classification of diseases. And the total score of Hanmilton rating scale for depression(HAMD) was more than 17. Healthy voluntary blood donators in the control group were from Nanjing Municipal Central Blood Station( n = 20).INTERVENTIONS: Antidepressant was used in the depression for 4 weeks: fluoxetine 20 mg per day; 5-serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine 20 mg per day; venlafaxime 50- 100 mg per day;5-serotonin and morepinephrine selective reuptake inhibitor(SNRI) fluvoxamine 50-100 mg per day. High performance liquid chromatograpy(HPLC)was used to measure the level of metabolite of plasma monoamine neurotransmitter in patients with depression before and 42 week after treatment, and the HAMD was used to evaluate clinical effect of the patients.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The levels of metabolites of plasma monoamine neurotransmitters in patients with depression: 5-hydroxyindoleace tic acid(5-HIAA), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol(MHPG) and homovani llic acid(HVA) were measured before and 4th week after treatment.RESULTS: The levels of 5-HIAA, MHPG and HVA of the metabolites of plasma monoamine neurotransmitters in patients with depression before treatment [ (20.3±14.6), (124.8±103.6), (54.7±32.1) μg/L] were all lower than those in the normal control group[ (39.5±28.4), (334.5 ±107.3), (88.5±37.2) μg/L], with statistically significant differences (P＜0.05). After SSRI treatment, the 5-HIAA content[ (37.1±21.9)μg/L]was significantly increased as compared with that before treatment, whose difference indicated significant meaning ( P＜0.05), but the differences in MHPG and HVA had no significant meaning as compared with those before treatment(P＞0.05) . After SNRI treatment, 5-HIAA and MHPG contents [(35.4±25.2 ), (291.2±120.4) μg/L] both were significantly increased, which indicated significant difference as compared with those before treatment( P＜0.05); but HVA level had no significant changes.CONCLUSION:'The peripheral neurotransmitter metabolites in plasma can reflect their states in brain. The change of neurotransmitter metabolite in plasma can be regarded as an important reference index for the evaluation of depression.

Autoimmune Diseases ; diagnosis ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatitis ; diagnosis ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery

Objective To analyze the clinical and histopathologic characteristics in children with subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma(SPTCL),and explore the pathological diagnosis and differential diagnosis,in order to boost paediatricians to better understanding the disease.Methods One case was diagnosed SPTCL with over 2 years protracted course of fever and multiple skin lesions.The evolvement of clinical presentation,the misdiagnosed experience,the histopathological features,the immunohistochemical results and T cell receptor(TCR)gene cloning rearrangement were observed.The related literatures published were reviewed.Results Skin biopsy showed that the histopathologic findings were limited within subcutaneous fatty tissue,the atypical lymphocytes characteristically rimmed individual fat cells in a lace-like pattern.Immunophenotypic studies showed CD45,CD45RO,CD3,CD5,T cell intracellular antigen-1(TIA-1)and perforin usually expressed possitive,while CD10,CD20,CD56,CD68,epithelial membrane antigen(EMA)and cytokeratin(CK)were negative,implying tumor cells derived from T-cell.The results of TCR gene rearrangement as following:IgH FR2(+),FR3A(-);TCR ? JVI(-),JVII(+);TCR? JD1(-),JD2(-).Although the protocol of children's T-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma was administrated,the treatment outcome was poor.Conclusion SPTCL is a special primary cutaneous lymphoma with poor prognosis,skin biopsy of suffered lesion is an important method for the diagnosis of SPTCL children with unclear recurrent fever and multiple skin lesions.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; Colon, Sigmoid/surgery* ; Colorectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Humans ; Robotics

60 curved root canals of permanent teeth with angles of curvature ranging from 15°to 40°(Schneider's methodology)were prepared using the instruments of Hyflex CM(HC) and ProTaper(PT) Universal respectively(n=30).Using standardized pre-and post-instrumentation paralleling periapical radiographs,canal curvature was determined by image analysis software and the clinical shaping effect of Hyflex CM and ProTaper rotary NiTi files were compared.The canal curvature in group HC and PT decreased by 4.54°±3.25° and 5.63°±3.84° respectively(between pre-and post-treatment in both groups,P<0.05;between groups,P>0.05).Hyflex CM can meet the clinical necessity for the instrumentation of curved root canals.

We investigated the electrophysiological and morphological characteristics of the neurons in the ventral partition of medial geniculate body (MGBv) in the rat during postnatal development (postnatal day 3-30, P3-30) with whole-cell patch clamp recording and intracellular labeling technique. The results are as follows: (1) There was an increase in the negativity of the resting membrane potential, a decrease in the input resistance and the time constant of the MGBv neurons of rats during the postnatal development; the amplitude, threshold and duration of the action potentials were also different on different postnatal days; (2) During the postnatal development, the changes in voltage-dependent ion channels dramatically influenced the waveform of action potential in the MGBv neurons. Application of 4-AP, a K(+)-channel blocker, reduced the amplitude and prolonged the durations of the action potentials in P6 neurons, and inactivated the neurons at the end of the pulse in P16 rats. Application of CdCl2 to block the voltage-dependent Ca(2+)-channel decreased the amplitude and increased the duration of the action potential in P16 rats; (3) Biocytin staining revealed that immature MGBv cell had smaller somata and short, simple dendritic aborization. During postnatal development, the matured neurons had oval somata and 3-4 primary dendrities that radiated irregularly and projected outside the section; spines also appeared on the dendrites of the mature neurons. These results reveal that the morphologic and electrophysiological properties are not matured during early postnatal development, and that the electrophysiological and morphological features of the developing MGBv neurons are interrelated.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Electrophysiology ; Female ; Geniculate Bodies ; growth & development ; physiology ; Ion Channel Gating ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; Neurons ; cytology ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effects of acupuncture on the level of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in adrenal gland and the content of corticosterone (CORT) in plasma in rats withchronic emotional stress anxiety, and to explore the partial action mechanism of acupuncture on anxiety disorder.

METHODSThirty-two healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, after 7 days of feeding and domestication, were randomly divided into a blank group (10 rats), a model group (11 rats) and an acupuncture group (11 rats). The rats inthe model group and acupuncture group were treated with unpredictable chronic emotional stress (CES) method toestablish the model of anxiety. Rats in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6)and "Shenmen" (HT 7), once every other day, 30 minutes each time. The model establishment and treatment lasted 15 days. Rats in the blank group were treated with identical immobilization but no treatment was given. Theelevated plus maze was used to test the behavioral changes of rats with anxiety; the level of CORT in plasma wasdetected by ELISA, and the expression level of CNP and ANP in adrenal cortex and medulla was detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTS(1) The percentage of open-arms time in total time (OT%) in elevated plus maze in the model group was significantly lower than that in the blank group (P<0. 05); the OT% in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P<0.01). (2) The content of CORT in plasma in the model group was higher than that in the blank group (P<0. 05), while that in the acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the model group (P<0. 05). (3) The expression of ANP in adrenal medulla and cortex in the model group was lower than that in the blank group (P<0. 01), while the expression of CNP in adrenal medulla and cortex in the model group was higher than that in the blank group (P<0. 01).

CONCLUSIONThe effects of acupuncture against anxiety are likely to be related to the regulation on the expression of ANP and CNP in adrenal medulla, affecting the release of CORT and inhibition on the activity !f hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis).

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adrenal Glands ; metabolism ; Animals ; Anxiety ; blood ; psychology ; therapy ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; blood ; metabolism ; Behavior, Animal ; Corticosterone ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type ; blood ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Psychological

Many bioactive peptides from neural and endocrine tissue are amidated at C-terminals,which is essential for their activities.The ?-amide comes from post-translational modification that is catalyzed by ?-AE (?-amidating enzyme) or PAM (pepdilylglycine ?-amidating monooxygenase).The gene encoding ?-AE was amplified with PCR and cloned into the plasmid pET-30a.After the recombinant plasmid pET-A was transformed into E.coli BL21,the ?-AE was expressed and purified by the Ni2+affinity chromatography,which has the ability catalyzing Dns-Tyr-Val-Gly to Dns-Tyr-Val-NH2.It identified that the recombinant protein producing by E.coli BL21 is ?-AE,which will benefit for studies of amidation at the C-terminals of peptides.